First monitoring results in Finland confirm minor impacts

The first environmental monitoring report on preparatory activities for construction in the Finnish Exclusive Economic Zone during the second quarter of 2018 has been submitted to the Finnish authorities.

Environmental impacts of munition clearance were observed to be in line or smaller than assessed in the permit application.

Nov. 2, 2018 | Helsinki, Finland/Zug, Switzerland | Nord Stream 2 AG has submitted to the relevant national authorities in Finland the results of its first quarterly environmental monitoring report for the 2nd quarter of 2018. The report presents the findings of the environmental monitoring carried out between April and June 2018 during preparatory activities for construction, such as munitions clearance and initial rock placement in the Finnish Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ). Based on results, environmental impacts of munitions clearance were observed to be in line or smaller than assessed in Nord Stream 2’s permit applications.

During the clearance operations, altogether 74 munitions were cleared. A wide range of mitigation measures were in place to reduce potential impacts on marine life: marine mammal observers ensured that marine mammals were not in the clearance area, seal scrammers were in place to scare away any seals that could have been in the area, porpoises were monitored with acoustic monitoring and fish scarers were used to drive the fish away from the area. In addition, in order to reduce underwater noise from the clearance operations, bubble curtains (i.e. barriers created by compressed air-bubbles) were used for all munitions in the Eastern part of the Gulf Finland and for munitions with a total charge of over 22 kilograms.

The first quarterly results analysed underwater noise measurements for a subsection of the cleared munitions. Results of underwater noise monitoring during munitions clearance and analyses of water quality changes during preparatory activities will be presented in the next monitoring reports.

Based on the monitoring,

the number of munitions to be cleared was smaller than planned (15 objects were identified as not being munitions during the pre-clearance surveys),

the size of the munitions was either smaller or in line with the information presented in the permit applications,

the total underwater noise caused by munition clearance was smaller than had been assessed in the permit applications,

underwater noise monitoring showed that the risk of causing hearing loss to marine mammals was smaller than assessed,

neither seals nor porpoises were detected in the area during the clearance operation.

Monitoring activities are performed in line with the Finnish Environmental Monitoring Programme, approved as part of the Water Permit decision granted by the Regional State Administrative Agency Southern Finland in April 2018. It covers monitoring of underwater noise, water quality, cultural heritage and fishery.

All findings presented in the quarterly monitoring reports for Q2-Q4/2018 will be compiled into an annual monitoring report for 2018, to be published in Q2/2019. Quarterly reports present the main results of the monitoring, whereas the annual report will include also comparisons with the impact assessments presented in the Environmental Impact Assessment Report and the permit applications. The reports will be available on Nord Stream 2’s website. See Q2/2018 report here.